Click Here to Enter Tasmanian Devil Zone (Mind your toes)

A computer based learning tool suitable for students in years 4 and 5.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Dasyuromorphia

Family: Dasyuridae

Subfamily: Dasyurinae

Genus: Sarcophilus

Species: Sarcophilus harrisii

Newsflash!!Mysterious disease is wiping out the Tasmanian devil population fast!! Anyone who is available we require your help!!

Oh no!! Where have all the Tasmanian devils gone??

Did You Know??

1. The devil is now found only in Tasmania.

2. The Tasmanian devil was given its name because of the growling, barking, snorting noises it makes when fighting for food.

Will you help??

Yes No

Please help us before it’s too late! Yes (Click here to help)

Thank-you for offering to help, there is a very important job we need you to do.

Task – You are employed by the Department of Wildlife as a park ranger who is required to investigate a mysterious disease sweeping through the Tasmanian devil population. This disease is causing a significant decline in the number of wild Tasmanian devils found It is important that you act fast before it is too late. You will be required to research this animal and the disease affecting them. Once you have done this you will present your findings and recommendations to the Department of Wildlife.

Click on the park ranger to begin new job.

Well done! Before you can begin your investigation on this mysterious disease, it is vital that you have a thorough understanding of the Tasmanian devil including :

Habitat (Where they live)

Breeding

Appearance (What they look like)

Diet (What they eat)

Why Tasmanian Devils are important

Interesting facts about this animal.

Task: You will find useful information on each of the above headings by clicking on the ‘information’ button below. You may find it helpful to write some of your findings down in your science journal. Before pressing the continue button, ensure you have a good understanding of the Tasmanian devil. (This knowledge may be useful later.)

Information Once you have finished this task click the ‘continue’ button.

Continue

Tasmanian devils are a special type of animal called a Marsupial. One of the key features that makes a Marsupial unique is that the female is born with a pouch. In these pouches they can raise up to four ‘imps’, as young devils are known. These pouches provide shelter and food for their young until they are old enough to survive on their own.

Look at the pictures of animals below. Can you see another animal that may belong to the Marsupial family? Click on the animal you think may be a Marsupial.

The animal you have selected does not belong to the Marsupial family. Read the information provided, and study the pictures carefully. Click on the ‘Try Again’ button below to have another go. Good Luck.

Try Again

Great work! We now know all about the Tasmanian devil thanks to your research. It’s now time to discover what this mysterious disease is, and how it is affecting the devil. It is important that you:

Know the name of the disease.

Know how the disease affects the Tasmanian devils.

Know what is being done to help the Tasmanian devils.

Know what you should do if you see a Tasmanian devil. (You may be there on holidays.)

Task – You will find useful information on each of the above headings by clicking on the ‘information’ button below. You may find it helpful to write some of your findings down in your science journal. Before pressing the ‘continue’ button ensure you have a good understanding of the disease affecting the Tasmanian devil. (This knowledge may be useful later.)

Information ContinueOnce you have finished this task click the ‘Continue’ button.

Click here to continue

Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is not a new disease. The first recorded sightings of the Tasmanian devil with these facial tumours were in 1996. DFTD is one of only three known cancers that can be spread like a contagious disease (can be caught like a cold). The disease is most commonly thought to be spread during breeding, and infected devils biting other devils. Currently the disease is only found in certain parts of Tasmania, with the Western side yet to be affected. Scientist and Wildlife groups are continuing their efforts to prevent the disease from spreading, and are working desperately to find out more about this disease so they can develop a cure. For more information on the Tasmanian devil including its history, habitat and DFTD. Click on the ‘watch video’ button below.

Watch Video Continue

What does the acronym (meanings for each letter) D.F.T.D stand for? Click on the correct answer from the three options given below. Remember : Think about what sort of animal it effects and where it affects this animal. (Might be a useful clue.)

Deep Facial Tissue Disease

Devil Foot Tissue Disease

Devil Facial Tumour Disease

Not sure? Click here to return to information page.

You were very close but one or two of the words were incorrect. Read the clue carefully. If you need to, go back to the information page. Click on the ‘try again’ button below to have another go. Good Luck.

Try Again.

Great work! Thank- you for your help. The information you have provided is a great start to saving the Tasmanian Devil. We have one last job for you. Using all of the information you have gathered we now require you to report your findings back to ‘The Department of Wildlife’. Please collect a worksheet the teacher has for you. The answers you provide is very important to our research so try your best.

Thank- You,

The Wildlife Department of Australia.

Teacher’s Page

Click here for more information!

Essential Learnings - ‘ Click here for essential learnings’

Intended Learning Outcomes – ‘Click here for intended learning outcomes’

Instructions for use – ‘Click here for instructions’

Suggested Uses – ‘ Click here for suggested uses’

Assessment – ‘Click here for assessment’

Reference List – ‘Click here for reference list’

Resource – ‘ Click here for more resources’

Science Organiser - Essential Learnings: By the end of year 5.

Ways of Working:

Students are able to:

1. Collect and organise data, information and evidence.

2. Reflect on and identify different points of view and consider other people’s values relating to science. (How helpful they are to different people

Knowledge and Understandings:

Life and Living Strand

‘Living things have features that determine their interactions with the environment.’

1. Living things can be grouped according to their observable characteristics.

e.g. insects have six legs; marsupials have pouches; fish have gills and fins.

2. Living things have relationships with other living things and their environment. Back to teachers page

With the completion of this lesson students will:

1. Have extended their knowledge regarding the Tasmanian Devil and the various aspects that make up its life.

2. Have background knowledge on a disease and how this particular disease affects the devil.

3. Realise the importance of the devil including why it should be saved and how it is been done.

Back to teachers page.

Students will work individually to navigate their way through the electronic learning tool. Detailed instructions are provided throughout their learning journey directing students towards the knowledge they are required to learn. This learning tool clearly identifies what students should do to find particular this particular knowledge and also how to progress to the next step. When first using this tool some explanation may be required when directing students how to access this tool. However once this has been achieved the student simply needs to start the slide show by pressing [ F5 ] on their keyboard or selecting ‘view show’ from under the ‘ Slide Show’ heading at the top of the screen. From there the electronic learning tool will direct the students for the rest of their learning experience.

Back to teachers page.

The following educational learning tool has been developed to be used by either a year four or five class. It is recommended, prior to using this tool, that students have a sound ability in the use of computers. Particular skills required for this tool is to be able to use both powerpoint and also to navigate websites at a basic level. This learning tool could be used at the start of a unit studying the Tasmanian Devil, however it would be more successful if it was used after at least one introductory lesson. These lessons should prompt students to ask questions about the Tasmanian Devil and with this tool many of these can be answered. It should be considered that images of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), could be unsuitable for some students. The teacher should use his/her judgement as to wether the tool should be used, based on their knowledge of the individual class.

Back to teachers page

Students are assessed throughout this learning tool with the use of a series of multiple choice questions concerning the information they have just read. These questions ensure that the learner has read the information and understood it before they progress any further. The main assessment however is a series of questions ranging in difficulty which the students must attempt to answer. (See attached) A total of twenty marks are available, questions are based around the information students collected throughout the learning tool

If this learning tool was used at the end of a unit, a poster presentation could be another form of assessment. Students could design a poster to be displayed by the ‘Department of Wildlife’ containing information on the Tasmanian Devil, the disease effecting it and what should be done if you see a Tasmanian Devil

Back to teachers page.

You can find more information on the Tasmanian devil at these sites:

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5372WP?open

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/LBUN-5QF86G?open

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/Tasdevil.htm

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=387